Neolithic Burials on the Rock

During their excavations in the1960s and 1970s, the Gibraltar Cave Research Group led by George Palao discovered two burial sites: the first at Goat's Hair Twin Cave on the Mediterranean Steps;and the second at Pete's Paradise Cave near the Ape's Den.

In both cases, grave goods had been left with the body. The skulls of all the female skeletons were in fragments, indicating that they had been crushed. These details seem to show that the burials might have been carried out with some kind of ceremony - the goods by the bodies probably meaning that they had some belief in life after death.

Goat's Hair Twin Cave

The find here consisted of a single female skeleton with the skull crushed in. One clay pot was found near the head of the body and another by the feet. Stone tools, a pendant and a stone armlet and anklet were also found with the body.

Pete's Paradise Cave

Four skeletons were found in this cave. The two female skeletons had had their skulls crushed. Several grave goods were also found with the bodies.

The Final Farewell - Neolithic burial ceremony in Pete's Paradise Cave in Gibraltar

Why is it that the skulls of the female skeletons are smashed in whereas those of the males are left intact?

We shall probably never know the real reason for this but there have been several ideas put forward.

1. Perhaps it is just coincidence that, in the very few (only two) burial sites so far found, the female skulls are crushed. This could have happened as a result of accident or violence or even through rough treatment during burial. Maybe other sites will show intact female skulls.

2. Perhaps the crushing of the skull of female bodies was part of the religious burial ritual of local neolithic groups.

3. Perhaps when a man died, his partner was killed (clubbed on the head?) to accompany him in the afterlife. Even in recent history, the widows of Indian men have thrown themselves on the funeral pyre so as to stay with him - the practice known as "suttee".

4. Perhaps the brains of dead females were eaten as a special delicacy - as suggested by George Palao in his book "Genesis and Evolution".

What do you think?

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